Sharp is still in financial trouble despite shifting more of its attention to mobile displays, and it appears ready to take some drastic action to keep itself afloat. Nikkei, Reuters and the Wall Street Journal all claim that the Japanese firm is planning to spin off its smartphone LCD division. The move will reportedly happen during the company's current fiscal year (by next March), and the WSJ believes that it could be announced before Sharp unveils its restructuring plans in May. The corporation will only say that it's still considering its reorganization options. If the spinoff talk is true, though, this shows just how tough it is to survive in the mobile display business if you aren't a powerhouse like LG or Samsung -- even some of Japan's LCD giants had to form an alliance to stay in the game.

Because every movie must have its own cinematic universe, Disney is expanding the reach of Star Wars -- as we expected when it purchased Lucasfilm a few years ago. While we wait for Episode VII to arrive later this year (the most recent teaser trailer is after the break), today at a shareholder meeting Disney's CEO Bob Iger announced details for two more movies. The first Star Wars movie taking place outside of the core saga will be Rogue One. It's written by Chris Weitz (Antz, About a Boy), directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla), and so far has cast actress Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything). It's scheduled for release December 16, 2016, while the next big Star Wars saga film, Episode VIII will arrive the following spring. Written and directed by Rian Johnson (Looper), it's coming to the screen on May 16, 2017. This strategy has been (mostly) well executed for the Marvel movies, we'll find out soon if Disney can recapture the magic of the original trilogy.

Nokia Siemens Networks has long been eager to shed as much weight as it can (unfortunately, including some staff) in a bid to turn around a business full of legacy hardware. The next on the chopping block, however, is a big one: the optical networking division. NSN has struck a deal to sell the fiber-focused group to Marlin Equity Partners and spin it out as a separate company. While the price of the deal isn't public, we're glad to hear that the 1,900 workers affected by the shift should keep their jobs if the agreement closes as promised, in early 2013. NSN chief Rajeev Suri makes no bones about the handover's goal -- it's to let his company concentrate on LTE and other thriving businesses while giving the optical group a second chance through Marlin's investment, if all goes well. We're left with an NSN that's considerably smaller than what we knew from its glory days, but it could be worth the hurt pride if the company stays standing.

You can imagine that the team building Alibaba's Aliyun mobile OS must have hurt feelings following Google's accusations that Aliyun is just a corruption of Android. Alibaba chief Jack Ma is keen to restore some of that wounded pride, at least on the surface. The CEO has used a since-confirmed staff memo to spin out Aliyun as a separate entity that will "safeguard the healthy growth" of the platform and Alibaba's mobile strategy. It's not solely an instance of tough love, either: Alibaba is putting $200 million into the new firm and will use executive Wang Jian as a link between the two sides, having him serve as the CTO for both companies. With that in mind, Ma's ultimate intentions aren't clear. While the separation may be a sign of a tighter focus on software, it also reduces the impact for Alibaba if anything drags Aliyun down -- and either motivation would be helpful for a company devoted to the web before anything else.

Intellectual Ventures is best known for its tendency to sue everyone, but it's going some distance to mend that bruised image through a newly spun out company, Kymeta. The startup hopes to improve the quality of satellite broadband through mTenna-branded, Ka-band hotspots made from metamaterials -- substances that can boost and manipulate a satellite signal while occupying virtually no space, leading to self-pointing transceivers that are just a fraction of the size of what we use today. That still amounts to equipment the size of a laptop running at a peak 5Mbps, although it's small enough that Kymeta sees hotspots reaching individual customers who want access from a boat, a car or the field. We'd just advise against tossing out the MiFi too quickly. Kymeta doesn't expect the hotspot to be ready before late 2014 at the earliest, and that leaves many questions about how much of a hit we'll take to the pocketbook.

Panasonic and Sanyo have only been life partners for about a year and a half now, but already the relationship has created a bundle of joy -- of a sort. Hot on the heels of some less-than-chipper financial news comes word that Panasonic is spinning off a portion of Sanyo. Sanyo DI Solutions is the name for the new creation, which will represent the company's efforts in producing OEM digital cameras -- cameras that get slapped with other manufacturers' labels before being sold as such. According to AV Watch, Panasonic's ownership had put a strain on Sanyo's fragile manufacturing partnerships, partnerships that can now bear beautiful, rebadged fruit. Sanyo DI Solutions will start with 10 million yen in capital and will go fully independent on July 1st. Hopefully it remembers to call home from time to time.

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Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:28:00 -040021|20223661http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/02/samsung-display-spinoff-launches/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/02/samsung-display-spinoff-launches/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/02/samsung-display-spinoff-launches/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsJust as planned, Samsung has formally separated from its display business, which will begin solo operations "in earnest" April 3rd. The newly created -- and still 100 percent Samsung Electronics owned -- Samsung Display comes into existence immediately as "the world's largest display manufacturer" with 20,000 employees and five production facilities around the world. New president Donggun Park reiterated the company's stance that this move will better allow the display unit to stay ahead of the market, although what that might mean in LCDs, OLED or any other new technology isn't clear yet. Competitor LG has had a separate LG Display unit since 1999, which was originally a joint venture with Philips before that company sold all of its shares in 2008. As you can see from the new logo above not a lot has changed so far, but we'll see what "customized products" it can develop in the future.

It's been less than a month since Samsung confirmed that it would be spinning-off its LCD business into a separate company, and it looks like things are proceeding along speedily. The company's shareholders have now approved the spin-off, paving the way for the tentatively-titled Samsung Display Co. to come into existence on April 1st. Samsung Electronics will have a 100 percent stake in that company, and the current executive vice president of its LCD business, Park Dong-gun, will take on the position of president in the new firm. All of that, Samsung says, is being done in an effort to make the company more nimble and able to respond to its clients' needs more quickly.

When the Korea Exchange asked Sammy about rumors of an impending spin-off of its LCD business, the firm said it was a move it was considering. Well, consider it done -- today Samsung announced it would be launching Samsung Display on April 1st, 2012 with $6.6 billion in its coffers. The move is still waiting for shareholder approval, but Donggun Park, executive vice president of Samsung's LCD business, seems optimistic. "The spin-off will allow us to make quicker business decisions and respond to our clients' needs more swiftly." This decision comes just months after Sammy agreed to take Sony's stake in S-LCD, turning the former display partnership into a fully owned subsidiary. Hit the break for the official (machine translated) press release.

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Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:53:00 -050021|20175177http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/10/netflix-backtracks-on-qwikster-will-keep-dvds-and-streaming-und/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/10/netflix-backtracks-on-qwikster-will-keep-dvds-and-streaming-und/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/10/netflix-backtracks-on-qwikster-will-keep-dvds-and-streaming-und/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
The Netflix Contrition Tour 2011 continues today, as the company announced today that it won't be spinning off DVD-by-mail rentals into a new company called Qwikster. While the plan for DVD operations to be separated internally appears to still be under way (no word yet on the promised videogame rental option), for customers things will stay the same, with one login and one website. While the retreat will probably prompt even more speculation about the company's true plans, CEO Reed Hastings has issued yet another apology to customers, admitting Netflix may have moved too fast this time.

Another sticky issue that's not so easily dealt with is the recent pricing change that took effect last month. While many speculated at the time about what percentage of customers would see higher prices as a result, spokesperson Steve Swasey reveals it affected about half of the company's subscribers. For the rest who had signed up for the $7.99-streaming only package (an option selected by the overwhelming majority in the quarter before the change) prices didn't go up at all. We have our own ideas about what the pricing should be, but it seems Netflix has finally realized not all customers got the message that it's a streaming company now, and tacking DVDs onto its new primary offering for only $2 extra just didn't work. Since all that uproar Netflix has announced a few new / expanded content deals for its streaming service, with Discovery and exclusive rights to previous seasons of The Walking Dead from AMC. But with renewed competition from the likes of Blockbuster and Amazon only time will tell if it can do enough to stop the subscriber bleeding. The Netflix Q3 earnings report is due October 24th -- think that will be an interesting call to listen in on?

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Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:00:00 -040021|20077396http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/03/webos-global-business-unit-split-outlined-in-leaked-hp-documents/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/03/webos-global-business-unit-split-outlined-in-leaked-hp-documents/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/03/webos-global-business-unit-split-outlined-in-leaked-hp-documents/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsIt's been just over two weeks since HP announced plans to discontinue production of its webOS devices, and speculation over the future of the platform is still going strong. Just this week, Samsung CEO Choi Gee Sung put to rest rumors of a webOS deal, and now two leaked missives from inside HP show plans to split the webOS global business unit in two. According to letters apparently from Todd Bradley and Shane Robison, webOS software will find a new home in the outfit's Office of Strategy and Technology, while the hardware division will remain with the Personal Systems Group. One of these letters from Tom Bradley explains the split:

The pan-HP charter of OS&T provides a broad view of how we can optimize our technologies. In fact, it has proven to be a successful incubator of technologies; it is home to a team of senior technology experts devoted exclusively to exploring longer-term strategies for our technologies.

The second missive, from Shane Robison, goes on to say that "webOS software is still a great asset." None of this should come as a surprise, as our interview with Stephen DeWitt reiterated the company's dedication to the webOS platform, while HP's recent ads hocking PSG show the outfit's intentions to spin-off its PC business. Now the question is, who has the bones to make it happen? For the full-length leaks hit the source link below.

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Sat, 03 Sep 2011 17:23:00 -040021|20034426http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/hp-promotes-40-billion-pc-business-spin-off-with-new-series-o/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/hp-promotes-40-billion-pc-business-spin-off-with-new-series-o/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/hp-promotes-40-billion-pc-business-spin-off-with-new-series-o/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Before today, HP had only expressed that it "will consider a broad range of options" for the future of its Personal Systems Group; and now, said company's released a series of ads to confirm its intention to spin it off into a separate company. Amidst the lovely (and ironic) mention of HP's long-lived success with its $40 billion PC business, the underlying message here is all about "staying focused on our customer needs" and to "better anticipate change" -- much like being a start-up all over again, as suggested by Executive Vice President Todd Bradley on HP's website. Of course, the customer in question here is likely from the enterprise sector, as we've all learned from CEO Leo Apotheker's interview at D9, the death of HP's webOS devices, and the pending acquisition of Autonomy. Still, we've yet to hear more concrete plans or even figure out who the potential buyers might be (if any), but for now, you can take a gander at HP's "sample ad" after the break.

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Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:09:00 -040021|20031664http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/18/hp-may-spin-off-pc-business-shift-focus-to-software-and-services/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/18/hp-may-spin-off-pc-business-shift-focus-to-software-and-services/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/18/hp-may-spin-off-pc-business-shift-focus-to-software-and-services/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsWord 'round the campfire is, HP may be prepping to spin off its PC business. Though Hewlett-Packard is the world's largest computer company, desktops and laptops are a relatively low profit margin business. Obviously, there's no confirmation yet that such a split will happen, but with the recent focus on tablets and smartphones, and CEO Leo Apotheker's own admission that he'd like to expand into software and services, the move would make sense. According to Bloomberg the announcement could come as soon as today, during the company's quarterly earnings call, where it's also expected to reveal a $10 billion purchase of software company Autonomy Corp. We'll be listening in live later, so check back this afternoon to see if HP sets its PC business free.

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Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:22:00 -040021|20021185http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/11/realnetworks-to-spin-off-rhapsody-give-up-control/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/11/realnetworks-to-spin-off-rhapsody-give-up-control/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/11/realnetworks-to-spin-off-rhapsody-give-up-control/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsSeems like times are tough in the streaming music game -- Warner is making noise about dropping free streaming rights to its catalog, and now RealNetworks and Viacom have announced plans to spin off the Rhapsody subscription service. The new company will obviously be known as Rhapsody, and both Real and Viacom will hold a sub-50 percent stake in the outfit and remain on the board of directors. Real's also contributing $18m in cash to the cause, while Viacom's committed to providing $33m in advertising -- we'll see if Rhapsody can make it on its own once that all runs out.

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Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:38:00 -050021|19354779http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/motorola-to-roll-out-revised-plan-schism-not-so-clear-cut-anymo/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/motorola-to-roll-out-revised-plan-schism-not-so-clear-cut-anymo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/motorola-to-roll-out-revised-plan-schism-not-so-clear-cut-anymo/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsRemember Motorola's decision to pause the sale of its largest division? Change of plans again, folks. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company's getting ready to reveal a new initiative, whereby it still sells its wireless networking business, but the set-top box and core handset business would instead be spun off into a new, publicly-traded company. That'd invariably leave a pretty small Motorola -- less than one-third its current size in terms of sales, selling primarily public-radio system and bar-code scanners. Would the newly-minted company get a new name, logo, and series of catchy, name-inspired puns? Our guess is it'd retain the Moto name -- why waste such good branding -- but it's not confirmed either way. Plans are still being finalized, but we're watching this closely.

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Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:39:00 -050021|19353044http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/04/deutsche-telekom-rumored-to-be-eyeing-t-mobile-usa-spinoff/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/04/deutsche-telekom-rumored-to-be-eyeing-t-mobile-usa-spinoff/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/04/deutsche-telekom-rumored-to-be-eyeing-t-mobile-usa-spinoff/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Not a week goes by that we don't hear of investor pressure on Deutsche Telekom to strengthen its financials and offload underperforming units -- T-Mobile USA included -- and the American outpost is back in the spotlight this evening coming off a report out of The Wall Street Journal that a spinoff might indeed be in the works. According to our favorite "people familiar with the matter," DT has reached out to a few banks with the goal of raising enough capital for T-Mobile through an IPO that it'd be able to continue to fund its network build-out, something that's going to become increasingly critical as it fends off 7.2Mbps HSPA and 4G competition from all of its national competitors. There are a few scenarios allegedly being discussed, ranging from a full-on excision of T-Mobile from its corporate parent to a merger with another US wireless firm -- but the plan gaining most traction internally is said to involve selling around 20 percent of the carrier to investors while hanging onto the rest, a situation that would get the underperforming unit's financials off DT's books. Ultimately, whatever comes of this probably won't happen for a few months while the options get mulled, but considering what went down in the UK, this certainly seems plausible.

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Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:54:00 -050021|19345776http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/14/motorola-pauses-split-to-mull-options/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/14/motorola-pauses-split-to-mull-options/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/14/motorola-pauses-split-to-mull-options/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsAmazing what a little success will do to a company, isn't it? The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that Motorola has put the brakes on its search for a buyer for its Home and Networks Mobility division that's responsible for the company's set-top boxes and network infrastructure equipment. It's easy to see why this might be a good time for Moto to pause and take stock of its situation -- while no one's even close to calling the Mobile Devices division's turnaround complete, the focus on Android appears to have injected fresh interest (and commercial success) in a lineup plagued with countless duds just a year ago. Apparently the company is also discouraged by the fact that suitors have lowballed Motorola's expected sale price by a billion or two, but make no mistake, the split isn't off altogether -- the executive board is expected to convene in the next few days to figure this all out before the next round of bidding is due in February. Stay tuned -- by the end of the year, we could realistically be looking at one, two, or even three Motos depending on how this goes down.

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Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:13:00 -050021|19317625http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/comcast-deal-to-buy-nbc-is-done-will-be-announced-thursday/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/comcast-deal-to-buy-nbc-is-done-will-be-announced-thursday/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/comcast-deal-to-buy-nbc-is-done-will-be-announced-thursday/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
We told you we had a feeling this thing was happening -- less than a day after GE consolidated ownership of NBC Universal in preparation to spin it off and sell a controlling stake to Comcast, CNBC is reporting that the deal is actually done and will be announced Thursday morning. As rumored from the start, Comcast will now own 51 percent of NBC to GE's 49 percent, and the new company will fold in Comcast's various content assets, which means the new NBC will rival Disney in size. That's a big enchilada, and it should make the future of Comcast initiatives like TV Everywhere extremely interesting. Of course, all this still has to go through the FCC and FTC, and we wouldn't expect anything to be approved and finalized for a year, but none of that takes away from the magnitude of this deal. We'll obviously know more in a couple days, stay tuned.

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Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:10:00 -050021|19260869http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/03/directv-ceo-resigning-effective-july-1/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/03/directv-ceo-resigning-effective-july-1/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/03/directv-ceo-resigning-effective-july-1/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsTurns out the rumors were correct, DirecTV has officially announced CEO Chase Carey is resigning as of July 1, and a search for a successor is "under way." Of course, there's no word if the subsequent speculation that the company's next move after its spinoff/merger is a sale to AT&T is at all accurate, but we're sure there will be plenty of viewpoints on the subject in the weeks and months to come.

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Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:51:00 -040021|19057090http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/time-warner-spills-details-on-twc-spinoff/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/time-warner-spills-details-on-twc-spinoff/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/time-warner-spills-details-on-twc-spinoff/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
This won't affect the most of you one single bit, but for those that have a vested interested in either Time Warner, Inc. or Time Warner Cable, the details of the spinoff are now public. The tax-free separation of TWC from Time Warner will involve a dividend distribution of all of the Time Warner Cable common stock held by Time Warner to Time Warner stockholders; said distribution will be made on March 27th to Time Warner stockholders of record at 8PM on March 12th. Time Warner Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bewkes noted that he was "confident that this separation would benefit Time Warner and Time Warner Cable stockholders," suggesting that the move would enable each entity to be "better positioned to compete, with capital structures more suited to their respective needs as well as greater operational, financial and strategic flexibility." Maybe TWC will get around to adding a few more HD channels now that daddy isn't looking over its shoulder 24/7, but we wouldn't bet the farm on it.

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Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:20:00 -050021|1476313http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/21/time-warner-to-finalize-twc-spinoff-this-quarter/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/21/time-warner-to-finalize-twc-spinoff-this-quarter/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/21/time-warner-to-finalize-twc-spinoff-this-quarter/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Wait, what? Time Warner Cable is still a part of Time Warner, Inc.? Weren't they supposed to split, like, almost a year ago? We've always heard that old flames are hard to extinguish, so we guess we shouldn't be too shocked to hear that this drawn-out separation is still being, well, drawn out. According to a fresh release from parent company Time Warner, it has "elected to complete the separation of the two companies through a spin-off distribution involving a pro rata dividend of all of the Time Warner Cable common stock held by Time Warner to Time Warner stockholders." If you're hungry for details beyond that, we're afraid you'll have to wait -- all we're told is that the two "continue to expect that the separation will be completed by the end of the current quarter." Cute how "continue" was thrown in there, yeah?

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Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:31:00 -050021|1466906http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/22/time-warner-and-cable-unit-announce-separation-dividend-informa/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/22/time-warner-and-cable-unit-announce-separation-dividend-informa/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/22/time-warner-and-cable-unit-announce-separation-dividend-informa/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
We knew last month that Time Warner was looking to spin off its Time Warner Cable unit, but now the nitty-gritty details are starting to surface. Parent company Time Warner, Inc. will receive a $9.25 billion one-time cash dividend in the transaction, while TWC will "borrow $10.9 billion to fund the payout to its parent, which owns 84 percent, and other shareholders." CEO Jeffrey Bewkes was quoted as saying that "Time Warner no longer needs to own a cable operator to carry its movies and TV shows because it has established brands and more options for distribution," though the exact distribution form hasn't been decided upon just yet. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

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Thu, 22 May 2008 10:42:00 -040021|1202301http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/05/sprint-seriously-considering-spinning-off-nextel/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/05/sprint-seriously-considering-spinning-off-nextel/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/05/sprint-seriously-considering-spinning-off-nextel/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
We'd take this with half a tablespoon of salt for now, but The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sprint-Nextel Corp. is "seriously considering spinning off or selling its ailing Nextel unit." That's according to undisclosed people "familiar with the situation," though Sprint did decline to comment on whether it actually was considering a sale of Nextel. Also of note, Cyren Call is reportedly attempting to "assemble a consortium of investors to acquire Nextel as part of its plans to create a nationwide wireless network for public safety communications," and while it can't be confirmed, we are hearing that Sprint is "contemplating other possible buyers such as private equity firms." Still, these same sources made clear that "no deal was imminent and that Sprint was preoccupied for the moment with other matters." It's no secret that the firm would be way more attractive to suitors (read: Deutsche Telekom) if the flagging Nextel division was detached from the deal, but we guess we'll have to wait and see how it all plays out. [Warning: read link requires subscription]

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Mon, 05 May 2008 16:00:00 -040021|1187103http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/05/sprint-seriously-considering-spinning-off-nextel/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/05/sprint-seriously-considering-spinning-off-nextel/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/05/sprint-seriously-considering-spinning-off-nextel/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
We'd take this with half a tablespoon of salt for now, but The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sprint-Nextel Corp. is "seriously considering spinning off or selling its ailing Nextel unit." That's according to undisclosed people "familiar with the situation," though Sprint did decline to comment on whether it actually was considering a sale of Nextel. Also of note, Cyren Call is reportedly attempting to "assemble a consortium of investors to acquire Nextel as part of its plans to create a nationwide wireless network for public safety communications," and while it can't be confirmed, we are hearing that Sprint is "contemplating other possible buyers such as private equity firms." Still, these same sources made clear that "no deal was imminent and that Sprint was preoccupied for the moment with other matters." It's no secret that the firm would be way more attractive to suitors (read: Deutsche Telekom) if the flagging Nextel division was detached from the deal, but we guess we'll have to wait and see how it all plays out. [Warning: read link requires subscription]

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Mon, 05 May 2008 16:00:00 -040021|1187102http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/31/motorola-officially-considering-dropping-its-phone-unit/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/31/motorola-officially-considering-dropping-its-phone-unit/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/31/motorola-officially-considering-dropping-its-phone-unit/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsRumor no longer, Motorola is taking a hard look at its Mobile Devices unit and might very well give those slackers the ol' Freescale treatment and spin off the division as a separate company. This sort of love 'em and leave 'em tactic is oddly a bit of a habit with Motorola when times are bad, and times certainly have been better -- Motorola's phone unit lost $388 million this quarter, compared to $341 million in earnings a year ago. Motorola may sell the unit or spin it into its own company, which would leave Motorola with precious few intersections with the RAZR-saturated consumer, and as more of a government and enterprise business. Says Greg Brown, current president and CEO: "We are exploring ways in which our Mobile Devices Business can accelerate its recovery and retain and attract talent while enabling our shareholders to realize the value of this great franchise." It's a pretty odd statement for any company to make, and considerations may be further along than they sound, but either way we'll be keeping an eye out for any developments.